West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly interested in luring Bayern Munich striker Sandro Wagner to the London Stadium, per reports in Bild. His arrival, however, would throw a few spanners in the works.
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Wagner is said to be growing unhappy at the Bundesliga superpower, given he is forced to play a backup role to Robert Lewandowski.
At 30, the striker wants to be playing and giving it his all but has been resigned to just two starts this season – making a further six substitute appearances across all competitions.
The German publication quotes Wagner saying: “I’m a guy who gives gas [everything]. Since the summer I give even more gas, because I just want to have the last years of my career again in full throttle.”
The former Hoffenheim hitman returned to the club where his professional career began at the start of 2018 and signed a two-and-a-half year deal, expiring in 2020.
Pellegrini is said to be hoping he can break the eight-cap German international out of his contract at Bayern and bring his tenacious approach to the Premier League in January.
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A change of shape
A move for Wagner would force West Ham to drop the currently favoured 4-1-4-1 system, unless Marko Arnautovic returns to the wings.
At the start of the season, Pellegrini had favoured a 4-2-3-1 look to his new side, but results did not fare well for the Irons – losing the opening four.
Performances and results eventually began to turn around with a change to 4-1-4-1, but Wagner leading the line would come at a price of the central play that has made Arnautovic such a hit in east London. A switch back to 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 would be needed.
Who can Pellegrini drop?
If Pellegrini were to bring a first-choice striker to the club in January, one option that would allow the Austrian to continue operating centrally would be to move Arnautovic down to the central attacking midfield slot in a 4-2-3-1 rather than as the striker.
This move would also not impact Felipe Anderson’s growing stature at the club from the left wing position, while opening the solo-striker slot for a Wagner-type forward.
A return to having two holding midfielders would, however, mean one of Mark Noble or Robert Snodgrass would need to be dropped, but that argument has a simple answer for the Scotsman can return to his natural right-midfield slot – leaving Noble to partner Declan Rice as the holding duo.
Interestingly, a return to 4-2-3-1 and the signing of another striker would solve some of Pellegrini’s depth issues across the pitch. Jack Wilshere, Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll’s expected returns will provide cover in three key areas, while academy breakthrough star Grady Diangana can understudy Snodgrass and Anderson out wide.
